What is the history behind Crossroads Village?

Hundreds of thousands of people visit Crossroads Village and the Huckleberry Railroad each year to experience a special time in the history of Genesee County. Before the turn of the century, Genesee County was a center for the lumber Industry. With the advent of carriage, Genesee County would dominate the carriage building trade. It was at this time that Flint became known as the “Vehicle City.” Smaller towns began to grow and prosper around Flint because of Genesee County’s rich supplies and natural Resources. With its collection of historic structures, an operating philosophy as a true “living village,” preservation of skills, atmosphere, and flavor of this exciting time in Genesee County’s history, Crossroads Village and the Huckleberry Railroad is the number one tourist destination in Genesee County.

What is Crossroads Village and the Huckleberry Railroad all about? 

Crossroads Village evolved out of the desire of a group of citizens who wished to save the Buzzell House and the Wisner Carriage Barn, both of which are historically significant to the City of Flint, but were facing eminent doom due to encroaching freeway construction. Funds were raised and both historical structures were moved to safety in the Genesee County Recreation Area. In 1975, the development of a historical village was designated as Genesee County’s official Bicentennial Project. Crossroads Village officially opened July 4, 1976.

From that dramatic beginning, Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad has grown into a historic complex boasting some 34 buildings, including Michigan’s oldest operating gristmill, working sawmill and cider mill, an operating print shop and smithy, a doctor’s office, and a licensed barbershop. A brick commercial building housing an opera house, an official U.S. Post Office, a well-stocked General Store, and a small café grace Main Street. A one-room schoolhouse is used by hundreds of students annually, and Village houses come alive with cooking, baking and craft demonstrations daily. In the Village Park, a Ferris Wheel and Carousel built in 1910 and 1912, respectively, by “America’s Amusement King,” Charles W. Parker, entertain the thousands of children who visit Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad each year. In 1995, the Genesee Belle, a paddlewheel riverboat, replicating the style that cruised this country’s larger waterways was added to the Crossroads Village collection.

In 1984, a whole new dimension was added to visitors’ enjoyment with the inception of “Christmas at Crossroads” Holiday Magic. This holiday program features 600,000 sparkling lights and combines the best of old and new holiday traditions. Crossroads Ghosts and Goodies is described as “a spook-tacular event with lots of silly fun and gentle frights for everyone” and was included as an annual program of Crossroads Village and the Huckleberry Railroad in 1986.

What is the Endowment Fund? 

To help protect this legacy from our past, the Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad Endowment Fund has been established through a grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation in the amount of $100,000. The Mott Foundation has challenged the community to match its gift of $100,000, at which time the foundation will donate yet another $100,000. Consistent with the nature of an endowment fund, the base funding will be invested, with only the annual income derived from the fund available for use. In this case, the annual proceeds from the endowment fund will enable Crossroads Village to preserve and enhance existing facilities and programs, and support the acquisition and development of new facilities and programming. Because historic structures are oftentimes very fragile, Village buildings are in constant need of maintenance and upkeep. Without the support of the Endowment Fund, some of these repairs will have to be indefinitely delayed, thus endangering the future of this community treasure.

How Can You Help? 

You can help the Crossroads Village Endowment Fund in several different ways:

• You may make a direct donation of a check or money order to the Endowment Fund.
  

• You may make an outright gift of securities, personal property or real property to the Endowment Fund.
  

• You may make the Endowment Fund a beneficiary of a life insurance policy, or
  

• You may honor living persons or deceased friends and loved ones by making gifts to the Endowment Fund in their name.

All gifts to the Community Foundation/Crossroads Village Endowment Fund are tax-deductible, and can be used as a Michigan Foundation tax credit on your State of Michigan income tax return.

Call us at 810-736-7100 and ask to speak to a representative from our "Endowment Fund".